Lyr ADD: A Song of Spurning / Merchant's Daughter

Subject: Lyr Req: A Song of Spurning
From: GUEST,Goldie
Date: 15 Jun 22 - 04:05 AM

I have a lovely tune on my voice recorder from a singing session at a festival, but can't catch all the words and am hoping someone will know the song, which includes lines "There came a suitor" ... "He went and courted Molly with tears of melancholy" ... "So all ye maids take warning if your lad you're spurning" ...

Subject: RE: Lyr ADD: Merchant's Daughter
From: Joe Offer
Date: 16 Jun 22 - 04:33 AM

Hi, Goldie. I think this is the song you're seeking.

THE MERCHANT'S DAUGHTER

In Derry lived a merchant and he had one only daughter,
And she had sweethearts plenty to court her night and day.
But when she had them gain-ed, their company disdain-ed
And many's the clever young man, heart wounded went away.

At length there came a suitor from Clady for to coort her,
With scorchin’, burnin’ flames for to thaw her frozen heart.
Says she, “Young man retire, your suit I don’t admire,
Nor is it my desire a single life to part.

“Your passion for me smother, and go and coort some other,”
So he went next Wednesday evening to one he had in view.
He went and courted Sally, and left disdainful Molly,
And with tears of melancholy he gave her time to rue.

About six weeks or better she wrote to him a letter,
And he wrote back an answer and sealed it with disdain;
Saying, “When you could you would not, and when you would you need not,
So read these lines and grieve not, my answer is quite plain.”

Now all ye maids take warning by me and my misfortune,
And never slight the young man that’s master of your heart;
For if you lightly spurn him, you’ll find him not returning,
Your days you’ll spend in mourning— ’tis I that feels the smart.

#34 in Volume 2 of The Complete Irish Street Ballads, collected and annotated by Colm O Lochlainn (Pan Books edition, 1984, page 68)

Volume 2 first published in 1965 as More Irish Street Ballads

Melody posted upon request. [e-mail]

Subject: RE: Lyr ADD: A Song of Spurning / Merchant's Daughter
From: Joe Offer
Date: 16 Jun 22 - 04:37 AM

Here's the Traditional Ballad Index entry on this song:

Slighted Suitor, The

DESCRIPTION: A rich merchant's daughter has many suitors; she rejects them. One wins her heart, but she says, "I have no desire a single life to part." He courts another. She begs him to change his mind. He rejects her in turn. (She warns against doing as she did)
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1926 (Sam Henry collection)
KEYWORDS: love courting rejection abandonment
FOUND IN: Ireland
REFERENCES (2 citations):
Henry/Huntingdon/Herrmann-SamHenrysSongsOfThePeople H159a/b, pp. 396-397, "The Slighted Suitor" (2 texts, 2 tunes)
OLochlainn-MoreIrishStreetBallads 34, "The Merchant's Daughter" (1 text, 1 tune)
Roud #4715
CROSS-REFERENCES:
cf. "The Rejected Lover" [Laws P10] and references there
NOTES [38 words]: The notes in Henry/Huntington/Herrmann speculate that this might be a version of "The Rejected Lover" (Laws P10). The plots are indeed the same. But I see no points of contact in the lyrics; I think they are separate songs. - RBW
File: HHH159

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Subject: ADD: The Slighted Suitor (A)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 16 Jun 22 - 05:18 AM

THE SLIGHTED SUITOR (A)

Down in Dublin City there lives a merchant's daughter,
She had so many sweethearts to court her night and day,
At last there came a 'sut-i-or' from Clady banks to court her,
He took from thence the burning flame to melt her frozen heart.

She says, 'Young man, retire; your wealth I don't admire,
For I have no desire a single life to part.'
This young man being asham-ed, he went to be reliev-ed,
He went next Tuesday evening to one he had in view.

He's left disdainful Molly, he's gone a-courting Sally.
Here is some melancholy, I'll give you time to rue
So just in six weeks after, she wrote to him a letter,
She wrote to him a letter saying for him to come back again.

So just in three weeks after, he wrote to her an answer;
He wrote to her an answer and sealed it with disdain,
Saying, 'When you could, you would not; now you would and shall not,
Read these lines and grieve not, you'll find my answer true.'

So come all ye fair maids, marry, that don't intend to tarry,
And never slight the young man that's master of your heart,
For when he goes a-roving, you'll find him long returning,
You'll spend your days in mourning -- it's I a feels the smart.

Notes: It is very typical of the old unlettered
ballads and enjoyed a widespread popularity. The last three words of the song are spoken, not sung. This sweet air has a very haunting rhythm.

Source John M'Laughlin, Mill Street, Ballycastle County Antrim

from: Sam Henry's Songs of the People (University of Georgia Press, 1990, page 397)

Here's the original: https://niarchive.org/archiveitems/printed-version-of-a-songs-of-the-people-article-tonic-sol-fa-notation-and-words-to-song-titled-no-159-the-slighted-suitor-collected-by-sam-he/

Subject: ADD: The Slighted Suitor (B)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 16 Jun 22 - 05:25 AM

THE SLIGHTED SUITOR (B)

In Coleraine town resided
A wealthy merchant's daughter,
Oh, she had sweethearts plenty
To court her night and day.

And when their love she gain-ed,
Their courtship she disdain-ed,
She did her whole endeavour
Their very hearts to break.

Till at length a wealthy suitor
From Claudy came to court her,
He brought with him the flames of love,
Her frozen heart to melt.

She says, 'Young man, retire,
Your suit I don't admire,
For I have no desire
A single life to part.'

In six months more or better,
She wrote to him a letter,
He wrote her back an answer
And sealed it with disdain.

Saying, 'When you could, you would not
But now you would, you shall not.
Read these lines and grieve not,
You'll find my answer plain.'

So now he's courting Sally
And left deceitful Molly,
The tears of melancholy
He gave her time to rue.

Now all you maids of learning,
By Molly pray take warning:
Never slight the wee lad
That's master of your heart.

For when he goes a-roving,
You'll find him ne'er returning,
You'll spend your days in mourning,
It's me that feels the smart.

from: Sam Henry's Songs of the People (University of Georgia Press, 1990, page 397)